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Justin Timberlake an investor in MySpace buy

MySpace's new owners say they'll divulge the details of where they're taking the social network a little later this year. In the meantime, they're putting investor and pop star Justin Timberlake in charge.

Josh Lowensohn Former Senior Writer
Josh Lowensohn joined CNET in 2006 and now covers Apple. Before that, Josh wrote about everything from new Web start-ups, to remote-controlled robots that watch your house. Prior to joining CNET, Josh covered breaking video game news, as well as reviewing game software. His current console favorite is the Xbox 360.
Josh Lowensohn
2 min read
MySpace investor Justin Timberlake.
MySpace investor Justin Timberlake. JustinTimberlake.com

If there were any concerns about whether MySpace will continue to live on as a service that's tied to music culture, the new owners are trying to put that to rest. One of them being pop star Justin Timberlake.

Specific Media, which earlier today purchased MySpace from News Corp., announced Timberlake's involvement as both an owner and shaper of where the company plans to take the social network.

"As part of the deal, Emmy and Grammy winning artist Justin Timberlake will also take an ownership stake and play a major role in developing the creative direction and strategy for the company moving forward," Specific Media said in a follow-up release. "Specific Media and Timberlake plan to unveil their vision for the site in an exclusive press conference later this summer."

In the meantime, the company says MySpace will become "the premiere digital destination for original shows, video content, and music."

How much of an investment Timberlake put in to the deal, which is rumored to sit at $35 million, is unknown.

This is not Timberlake's first business venture. He's the co-owner of clothing brand William Rast, owner of the Mirimichi Golf course in Memphis, Tenn., founder of Tennman Records, and creator of 901 Silver Tequila. Back in November of last year, Timberlake was also an investor in a $2 million round of funding in photo start-up Stipple, as well as investing in app maker Tapulous, which was acquired by Disney last year.

Timberlake famously played Napster founder Sean Parker in "The Social Network," the Oscar-winning film about the creation of MySpace rival Facebook.